The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement enforces the 71 chapters of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 1880, the first eight Game Protectors proudly began serving to protect the natural resources and people of New York State. In 2024, the Division of Law Enforcement fielded more than 105,717 calls, resulting in Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators across the state responding to more than 30,109 complaints and working on cases that resulted in 15,755 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the illegal pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

“DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) and Investigators protect New York’s air, water, wildlife, and public safety, while also working to connect New Yorkers with the outdoors,” Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “As we tackle environmental threats on all fronts, I applaud the critical work DEC’s ECOs and Investigators are undertaking to enforce New York’s Environmental Conservation Law and ensure a cleaner, greener, safer, and more resilient New York State.”

Snake in the House – Delaware County

On May 24, ECO Osborne responded to reports of a snake inside a residence in the town of Kortright, Delaware County. Officer Osborne, a member of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement Wildlife Response Team, arrived at the home and observed a three-foot-long milk snake in the living room. The Officer safely removed and relocated it back into the wild away from the residence. The eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum), a non-venomous snake native to the northeast, is often mistaken for a rattlesnake due to the light and dark blotches on its skin and rapid shake of its tail when approached by a potential predator. 

Get Outdoors and Get Together – Nassau County

On June 14, ECOs Francis, Ruffle, and Smith participated in the New York State Parks “Get Outdoors and Get Together Day” at Hempstead Lake State Park in Nassau County. Celebrations were held across the State for the annual event encouraging people of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds to get together with family and friends for outdoor fun at DEC facilities and State Park lands as part of Governor Hochul’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative.

ECOs who attended the Nassau County event spoke to many members of the public interested in DEC law enforcement job duties, and some Officers joined New York State Park Police in holding an albino boa constrictor from Uncle Tony’s Reptile Shack.

ECOs and Park Police hold an albino boa constrictor during Get Outdoors and Get Together Day in Nassau County (photo attached)

Peregrine Falcon Rescue – Westchester County

On June 17, ECO Franz responded to a report of an injured bird on the shore of the Kensico Reservoir in the town of Harrison. Officer Franz located the Peregrine falcon on a rock just off the shoreline, apparently unable to fly or flee. ECO Franz did not observe any noticeable injuries but safely transported the bird to a local wildlife rehabilitator for an assessment out of an abundance of caution. The falcon, initially lethargic, recovered quickly once with the rehabilitator and was released back to the wild after a brief stay.

The scientific name for a peregrine falcon is Falco peregrinus, which means “wandering falcon,” derived from the bird’s migration patterns where they may travel great distances, as much as 15,500 miles. They are also the fastest animal on earth, reaching speeds of more than 200 miles per hour in a hunting dive called a stoop in pursuit of other birds, their preferred prey.

ECO Franz locates a peregrine falcon at Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County (photo attached)

ECO Franz prepares the peregrine falcon for transport to a local wildlife rehabilitator (photo attached)

Garden City Job Fair – Nassau County

On June 22, ECO Dickson attended the Nassau County Military and Law Enforcement Career Fair in Garden City. ECOs and other law enforcement agencies. Officer Dickson educated attendees about the requirements and responsibilities of an ECO and overall mission of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement to protect public health and the environment. He also urged those interested in becoming an ECO to sign up for email alerts to find out when exams will be offered and exam requirements.

ECO Dickson attends a military and law enforcement job fair in Nassau County (photo attached)

Cormorant in the Pool – Suffolk County

On June 23, ECO Francis responded to a report of an injured and distressed cormorant in the town of Babylon. The seabird was reportedly in a resident’s small swimming pool for approximately three days without anyone seeing it eat or attempt to leave. Officer Francis safely captured the bird and transported it to a local wildlife rehabilitator for an evaluation and treatment. DEC checked in with the rehabilitator and learned that the cormorant was released approximately four days later at the Venetian Shores Park boat launch in Babylon. The rehabilitator stated the bird was uninjured, had simply landed in the small backyard pool mistakenly, and was good to go after a few meals.

Cormorant discovered in a backyard pool in Suffolk County (photo attached)

Illegal Clams – Suffolk County

On June 24, ECOs Day and Franz responded to a complaint regarding three individuals with headlamps digging for clams in Centerport Harbor, an area in the town of Huntington closed for taking shellfish. The Officers approached the trio as they returned to their vehicle, checked their catches, and observed horseshoe crabs, blue crabs, and nearly 400 hard clams. Some of the catch was outside legal size limits and others would have been legal catches if caught in waters authorized for shellfishing. Shellfish may not be harvested between sunset and sunrise and may not be taken from closed waters in New York State. The recreational limit for hard clams is 100 per person per day. All three individuals received tickets for harvesting clams from uncertified waters and possessing undersized hard clams. To find an area open to shellfishing in New York visit DEC Public Shellfish Mapper.

Clams and crabs taken illegally in the town of Huntington, Suffolk County (photo attached)

Late Night Boat Parol – Nassau/Suffolk Counties

On the evening of June 24, ECOs Day, Franz, and Pabes conducted a boat patrol out of Eaton Neck in the town of Huntington, Suffolk County. The Officers worked well into the early morning hours, inspected eight vessels, and issued several tickets for violations including undersized and oversized striped bass, tautog, summer flounder, and scup. All the fish were removed from the vessels and returned to the water unharmed. Additionally, ECOs discovered two violations of New York State Navigation Law for an unregistered vessel and no emergency signaling device.

ECO Franz with oversized striped bass removed during a late-night boat patrol on Long Island (photo attached)